Ultrahigh-frequency amplifier



May 19, 1953 4D. B. REEVES 2,639,335

' ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCY AMPLIFIER Filed June 25, 1950 2 Sheets-SheetI l IN VEN TOR. OaE/M 5. AEEx/Es EWE May 19, 1953 D. B. REEvEs ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCY AMPLIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 195o 'I mmv INVENTOR. v a/@M 551/55 Patented May A19, 195.3

UNITED SlT-Ares P-AfreN-flf oFF-licei 2,639,335

ULTRAHIGHFRE QUE NCY AMPLIFIER Dougal-B. Reeves.Madison, NL `J;, assignor tojy National" Union` Radio Corporation, Orange; N:'J-., a-corporaftionof Delaware' Applicationtlune 1950 .SerialfNo-- 169,799

tubes :and theirlead-ins can `beusefullitemployed as `part .of a resonant -Wave transmission linecou.- plingunit Another object is* to provide an inter-stage coupling l arrangement between .ultra high-fre-Y quency. amplifier tubes,l which arrangement is iny the. form of an openfendedresonant one-half- Wavelength line constituted -inV partv of(v the stray.

capacitances of the tubes;

A featureof the invention relatestoa novel. an'xpliler'A construction .incorporatingia -pluralityv of.` electron tubes 'Vmountedwith respectto aA metallic.y shield forA electrostatically .segregatingl the input vand youtputcircuits. of each {tube-.fand With an inter-stage f couplingtransmissionvvk line,

one. conductor of. which islconstituted .oft saidy metal shield- Another featurerelatesl to the novel organizarA tionl arrangement and .relative location.- antiinf-V terconnection of. parts which cooperate; to Epro.-A

vide` arr-.improved broacl-band..amp1i er for suse@ at ultra high lfrequencies.

Other features .and'advantagesf not specfcallyvr enumerated;- Will be apparent after yaconsiderationoffthe. following-detailed descriptions and the .y

appendedclairns.

In the drawing,

ligs.4 1. Yand 2. are. schematic. diagramsvofv al transmission.. line. coupling arrangement which are lexplanatory.-oft-he invention.

Fi'g. 3-is a top.plan.view,.partlysectionahof a two-stageultra vhigh=frecir1v1encyamplifier. accorde-f.

ing tothe invention.

Eig.v fis-.a sectional View of Fig. S-takenalong the line ll-` thereof.

y5 is' an. equivalent .schematic diagram -for the amplifier. of Figsy ande.-

Fi'g. 6". is a cross-sectional .View of l Vone Vof the.V

elements vofFg. 4l takenalong' .the thereof.' f

One of lthe limitations on the eiciency of elec- 2li 0,11 .tube*amplifiers'Operating-at ultramar-.free quencies,4 .fon example 300 megacycles perv second, Bihar the inherent; tube .Capacitancee end-@11e inherent .inductances of the vlead.- ins.:lalnd -corlnec` torrpinsof. the tubes are `usuallylarge enoughtor make inter-Siege 'Coupling'. arralieememsfunsatise factory and. even unworlablei. Amplifierl 4interstage coupling arrangements .have been proposed heretofore `using. .wave. transmission lines .asim-j pedance-matching. networksl for cbtainirlgjfcriticali coupling, Such lsystemsperformfairly well as narrow band ampliers.` However-they arefa-ry below optimum. .efficiency when,large vgain and band width characteristicsare-.necessalyf for ex-l ample. in video .arnpliiers.television amphi-1eral and the Iike. It. isknownthat maximum-gain and band. width are.. obtained when .the coupling is .greater than .critical coupling. At'frequencies' of' 30D'V megacycles and above, coupling, greater than critical.' is.. usually4 .impossible with convenf tionalltubes such as.. pentodes, .electron.multiizwlierf` tubes, andthelike, rbecause.the v.input and output capacitances. of. the. coupled tubes vare -e1ecti-vely across the .resonant circuit... .Thus theV total.A

capaciti7 andthe.inherentinductance .of lthe leadins,..inc1uding the tube prongs, tothe `various tube` electrodes', .are toorgreat to. resonate .in the desired ultra high .frequency.region.. The ,present invention .provides a practical solutionto thisdif'-,

iiculty.Y

Referring to. Fig. lofthecrawingf, thereis shovvna vconventin'n'na1,.wanve .transmission line-l 0,*- Whose electrical length.. is equal y.to a. half Ywave-.- lengthv of the. operating vfrequency. v` The voltage.

distribution `.along the lineisrepresented bythe dotfdash graphs.. I.H,..I2 The graphs l,.`.l2,

represent .respectively .they .voltage .distribution forvv two, excitation. conditions.. at. theinput ofthe line,

which arel` out4 of .phase. Atthelcenter ofthe line, thereisa voltagenode;A Inorderto shortenthe.y physical length of the. line. and! still .lmaintainits .one-half V.wavelength characteristics, it. canbe:v

loaded.: at,y opposite ends ,as.-.schematically repre. sentedlb'y the capacitors. I.3,I,lli{(1*ig..v v2).

Lookingl Ialong the. line.l in the. direction .from I 3 to 'lli-,4 the input.` end vSeesenapparenti high im,-

pedanceI atv resonance. .which is..-ana1oglous..t0..a..

parallel tuned c ircuitrV This factfis taken advanftage Ofi awrdine to Onerhasetof the ini/.entrent by: replacing, #hef capaitane.- 35' bv the; .output capacitance :of .oneclectronf .tubearnplien and-l r by 4replacing ,the l capacitance -I 4. by the. input capacitanceof .thesucceeding-.amplier tube; ...If Y there-iiWO-@prenanteswerczeqilaleheSame.volt-f age would be present across the input ofthe sec'- ond tube as is applied or generated at the output of the preceding tube, and there would be unity coupling. If the input capacitance of the second tube is greater than the output capacitance of the preceding tube, an impedance transformation is obtained.

In conventional electron tube amplifier circuits, it is necessary to provide by-passes to ground for certain of the tube electrodes or tube elements, which are required to operate at a steady direct current bias; and it is also necessary to prevent undesirable electrostatic coupling between the input and output circuits of the same tube. According to another phase of the present invention, the output of one tube is coupled to the input of the succeeding tube solely by a wave transmission line of the half wavelength type. One of the conductors of this line is constituted of a linear elongated electrostatic condenser, and the other conductor of this line is constituted of the ground plane or metal shield which serves to isolate the input and output elements of each tube. In other Words, this metal shield performs the double function of an electrostatic isolating element, and at the same time it acts as one of the conductors of a coupling line between successive tubes.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown one preferred physical embodiment of the invention incorporated in a two-stage ultra high frequency amplifier. Each of these stages may comprise a conventional grid-controlled electron tube preferably, although not necessarily, of the pentode type. For example, the tube I5 may comprise the usual evacuated enclosing bulb or envelope IG, having a base I1 which carries the plug-in prongs or pins I8-24. Enclosed within the bulb, and suitably mounted therein, are the usual electrodes, comprising the electron-emitting cathode 25, control grid 26, shield grid 21, suppressor grid 28, and plate or anode 29. Merely for simplicity in the drawing, these electrodes are shown schematically. In addition, the usual heater element or filament 30 is provided for raising the cathode to electron-emitting condition. The internal mount construction of such tubes usually provides special shielding means to segregate the control grid or input elements from the plate or output elements within the tube. However at ultra high frequencies it is necessary to extend this shielding exteriorly of the tube, particularly to isolate electrostaticallv the plate prong or pin I9 from the control grid prong or pin 2|. The tube 3| may be the same in construction as tube I5, comprising the filament prongs I Saa-24a connected to the respective electrodes 25a-29a, and to the respective filament 39a. 'Ihe two tubes are suitably mounted, and extend through respective openings 32, 33, in the top wall 34 of a metal container or box 35. Ex-

tending throughout the length of the box is a metal partition 36 Which has notches 31, 38, cut therefrom in registry with the respective openings 32, 33. The partition 36 is soldered or otherwise conductively fastened to the end Walls 39 and 49, thus dividing the box 35 into two separate compartments. The tube I5, as shown in Fig. 4, passes through the opening 32 and is supported so that substantially the entire external length of the control grid prong 2I is located on one side of the shielding partition 33, While substantially the entire external length of the plate prong I9 is located on the opposite side of this partition. It is the usual practice in tubes of this type, to locate the contact pins or prongs around a common center and usually in circular array, and in any event it is the usual practice to locate the grid and plate prongs fairly widely apart. Thus in the particular construction shown, these plate and grid prongs I9, 2 I and I9a, 2 Ia, are on opposite vsides of the respective shield grid prongs 28 and 20a.

In order to achieve the desired objects of the invention, the tube 3l however is mounted in the opening 33 so that the respective plate and control grid prongs I9a and 2m are also located on opposite sides of the partition 36. However the tube 3i is turned around its vertical axis through an angle, so that the plate prong I9`a is located on the same side of partition 36 as is the control grid prong 2l of tube I5. Likewise the control grid prong 2 Ia is located on the same side of partition 33 as is the plate prong I9. Preferably a supplementary metal partition 4I extends between the partition 36 and the side Wall 42 of the box.

In accordance with the invention also, the tubes I5 and 3I are spaced apart along the partition 36 so that their vertical centers are located approximately one-half wavelength apart. This distance will be determined by the inherent loading output capacitance of tube I5 and the inherent loading input capacitance of tube 3I, for purposes to be described. In order to couple the plate 29 to the control grid 26a, there is provided an elongated linear electrostatic condenser, comprising an inner elongated metal strip 43 and an outer elongated metal strip 44, with the strips insulated by an intervening layer 45 of suitable dielectric. The strip 43 is directly connected to the plate prong I9, while the strip 44 is directly connected to the control grid prong 2Ia. The elements 43, 54, 45, thus constitute what may be termed a stacked electrostatic line conductor 46. In accordance with the invention, this line conductor is spaced from the partition 35, and its length is chosen so that it forms with the said partition a wave transmission line whose electrical length When taken inr conjunction with the output capacitance of tube I5 and the input capacitance of tube 3l, constitutes a half wavelength line. There is thus provided a substantially continuous transmission line between the output elements of tube I5 and the input elements of tube 3l, and as explained above in connection with Figs. l and 2, there will be a voltage node along this line. If the input capacitance oi tube 3l is high, this voltage node would occur close to the envelope of tube 3I or even inside of the said tube envelope, and as explained above, the upper frequency limit of amplification is extended beyond the usable upper limit obtainable with conventional inter-stage coupling circuits.

The cathode prongs 23 and 23a are directly connected by short metal jumpers to the ground plane formed of the partition 36. Likewise the suppressor grid prongs 22 and 22a are also returned directly to this ground plane. The shield grid prong 20 is by-passed to ground by means of a button-type condenser 41 connected directly between prong 20 and partition 36. Likewise the shield grid prong 20a is by-passed to ground directly by a similar button-type condenser 48. The control grid 26 can be connected to desired source of ultra high frequency input signals by means of a short shielded conductor.49 having the usual coaxial line connector 53 mounted on the end wall 3S. Suitable insulated lead-ins 5I,

- 52, may supply the direct current potentials for separate supply conductors 53, 54, may be connected to the prongs I8 and 24 to heat the filament 30.

The plate prong I 9a is directly connected to the center conductor 55 of a conventional coaxial coupling connector 56, by means of an elongated linear capacitive line 57, which may be similar in construction to line 46. This line may comprise a pair of elongated at metal strips 58, 59, which are separated by an intervening dielectric 60. Here again, line 51 is located in predetermined parallel spaced relation to the shield 36 so that in conjunction with the output capacitance of tube 3|, and the input capacitance of the load device 6I, it is electrically equal in length to ya half Wavelength of the operating frequency of the amplier, which may, for example, be 300 megacycles per second.

Fig. shows the equivalent schematic circuit connections for the amplifier of Figs. 3 and 4 with the corresponding parts of the figures designated alike.

It will be understood that the tubes I5 and 3I can be retained in the openings 32, 33, against vibration in any well-known manner, although the respective tubes may be rigidly supported by the connectors to the various elements which connectors are in turn attached to the partition 36. Thus the metal straps which connect the cathode prong 23 to the partition 36 and the metal strap which connects the shield grid prong 20, may be suiciently rigid so that they support the tube I5 in the relation shown. It will be understood of course, that any other well-known means may be used for supporting the tube in position, for example each of the openings 32 and 33 may have a rubber ring or grommet attached to its edge for frictionally and resiliently engaging the envelope of the corresponding tube.

While the drawing shows an amplifier of two cascaded stages, it will be understood that the same principles may be involved for coupling three or more stages as will be apparent from the foregoing.

Various changes and modications may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Ultra high frequency amplifier apparatus, comprising a metal housing having a metal partition therein defining a ground plane, a plurality of grid-controlled electron tubes partially extending through a wall of said housing each of said tubes having respective grid and plate lead-ins with the plate lead-in of one tube and the grid lead-in of the next tube disposed on the same side of said partition and with the control grid lead-in of the rst tube and the plate lead-in of the next tube disposed on the opposite side of said partition, said partition extending in overlapping electrostatic relation between the grid and plate prongs of each tube, and a half wavelengthl transmission line serving as the signal coupling means between the plate of the first tube and the grid of the second tube, one conductor of said line being constituted of said partition and the other conductor of said line being constituted of a pair of elongated linear metal strips separated by a dielectric to form an electrostatic condenser extending along the major part of the line length.

2. Ultra high frequency amplifier apparatus according to claim l, in which one metal strip of said other transmission line conductor is connected at one end substantially directly to the plate prong of the first tube and the other metal strip of said other line conductor being connected substantially directly at the opposite end of the control grid prong of the second tube.

3.l Ultra high frequency amplier apparatus, comprising a metal plate serving as a ground plane for the amplifier, a, plurality of electron tubes each having a similar array of contact prongs concentrically arranged around the center of the tube base, and means to support said tubes with the plate prong of one tube and the control grid prong of the other tube located on the same side of said metal plate and with the control grid prong of said one tube and the plate prong of said other tube located on the opposite side of said metal plate, said tubes being spaced apart a distance equal to approximately one-half the wavelength of the operating amplifier frequency, and means coupling the output of the first tube to the input of the second tube and consisting substantially entirely of a half wavelength transmission line constituted in part of said metal shield.

DOUGAL B. REEVES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,143,671 Zottu Jan. 10, 1939 2,174,963 Braaten Oct. 3, 1939 2,223,835 Smith Dec. 3, 1940 2,397,543 Fuchs Apr. 2, 1946 2,427,110 Selby Sept. 9, 1947 2,463,724 Starner Mar. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 887,069 France July 26, 1943 

